Council approves swimming pool plans fee

The Mobridge City Council approved an additional payment to Helms and Associates of Aberdeen for the swimming pool plan revision, Monday, Dec. 2, but not without questions about additional costs.

Jay Koch representing Helms, told the council it would cost the city an additional $23,000 for the revision to reduce the project size. That would include a reduction in the size of the bathhouse from the original plans. Because that will include needed input from the architects, structural, civil, electrical and mechanical engineers, it adds to the additional fee.

The revision includes the bathhouse reduction, combining the pump house and surge tank, changing the plumbing layout and a revision of the deck areas and grading. The new plan will have alternate bids for the lazy river, water slides and play features that Koch said could save the city money in the long run.

The city has already paid the firm $76,000 on this project and owes an additional $4,000.

Ward I Councilman Tom O’Connell asked Koch if the revisions don’t fall within the funding for the project, would the city again pay additional fees for the revision.

“We will do whatever we can to get you a good a base bid,” said Koch. “Because of the changes to the bathhouse, two-thirds of the cost includes the engineer group’s input.”

“We understand that these plans have been changes and revised,” Mayor Jamie Dietterle told Koch. “But we are concerned about the money that has already been spent.”

That cost comes out of the pool fund that has been established and includes the funds that have been designated by the city and donations that have been made for the project.

Koch said the group plans to have the revisions finalized on Thursday, Dec. 13 and will have the plans ready to go 45 to 60 days from that time.

He said because of the holidays, it will take longer than at another time of the year.

Water valve leaks

Mobridge Water Department Manager Brad Milliken told the council the water leak at corners of First Avenue East and East Grand Crossing have been stopped as valves were replaced at those junctions.

Leaks were causing water to puddle at the corners and creating icy conditions on both corners.

The water department crew had searched for a way to stop the leak without having to replace valves, but could not stop the flow of water without cutting off water to part of Mobridge.

On Monday, Milliken said both valves at First Avenue and Grand Crossing had been replaced, but only one of the cutoff valves from the big water tower could be replaced because the equipment being used by the repair company had broken down. He said the city would have to turn off water to areas of town and that those valves have not been in working order for a number of years. Milliken suggested the repairs be made after the frost is out of the ground in spring.

Ward III Councilman Randy Carlson asked if the water could be turned off in case there is a water main break this winter. Milliken said there were other ways the water could be turned off in case of a break that would cause less interruption of service.

The council approved waiting until spring to replace the water tower valve.

Mowing contract

Only one bid was submitted for mowing city property and other maintenance of the parks and recreation areas.

Davis Martin submitted a bid of $32,600, which included mowing of the city park, west play park and lot; Legion Memorial Park area, including the little league, soft ball and pool areas; the large water tower lot; the walking trail and rest areas; the disc golf course; the library and both cemeteries.

The bid is based on 10 mowings with varying costs per area. The bid also included additional fees for grass collection in city park and Legion Memorial Park areas.

The bid also included a bid for $25 per man-hour for maintenance projects and $70 per application for West Nile prevention spray.

Carlson asked if the city employees could be doing some of the work that Martin and his crew do for the city.

Dietterle said the work that Martin’s crew does is usually work the city employees can’t get to, but must be done.